Eraser and cap assembly for pencils



Oct. 14, 1952 HyHANsEN ERASER AND CAP ASSEMBLY FOR PENCILS Filed Oct. 23, 1950 VLouls H. HANSEN IN V EN TOR.

n m m AT Vw Patented Oct. 14, 1952 ERASER AND CA1P ASSEMBLY FOR PEN CILS Louis H. Hansen, San Bruno, Calif.

Application October 23, 1950, Serial No. 191,650

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an eraser feed and lead storage compartment cap assembly for mechanical pencils.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an assembly of this character such that spare leads are readily accessible.

Another object is to provide for such accessibility without disturbing the eraser setting.

A further object is to provide an eraser feed which is facile of operation.

Additional and incidental objects will become evident from a consideration of the following detailed specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which shows in a single fragmentary view the essential details of a pencil attached assembly to hold pencil leads captive in a space in the pencil barrel and to provide for eraser extension and retraction.

The pencil comprises a, metal circularly cylindrical barrel or tube Ill forming the upper end of a pencil body and defining a space I2 for pencil leads therein. The upper end of tube Ill is cut off square as shown and telescopically receives a tubular eraser sleeve I4 having an internal stop such as an annular bead I6 adapted, as shown, to abut the end of tube Il). The bead It may be replaced by the inner projections of the fastening means for a clasp secured on the outside of the sleeve I4, but not shown here. The lower end I8 of sleeve I4 extends to the upper end of a pencil grip sleeve 2i] which is attached to the barrel I and forms a handle with which to manipulate the pencil.

A screw anchor sleeve 22 telescopes Within the end of tube I with a friction fit so that it will not turn nor slip endwise except with considerable force applied by the user to pull sleeve 22 out of the tube ID. Sleeve 22 includes annular lip 24 at its outer end which fits within sleeve I4 and can be moved to engage the upper surface of bead I6.

Anchor sleeve 22 is internally multiple threaded from end to end and receives the lower tubular externally multiple threaded end of an eraser carrier tube 2B. The upper end of tube 26 has secured therein an externally cylindrical rubber eraser 28. The securement of the eraser in tube 26 is such that rotation of one causes rotation of the other notwithstanding frictional forces of resistance to such motion developed by one or the other to such rotation. The eraser is nevertheless insertable and removable by mere manual eiort to and from its seat in the upper end of tube 26 so that only the eraser need be scrapped upon renewal of the eraser. The uncompressed diameter of the portion of eraser 28 above tube 26 is uniform and slightly greater than the internal diameter of its protective and driving sleeve I4, so that rotation of sleeve i4 causes the eraser 28 to rotate. While this rotation is effected by the users lingers engaging sleeve I4, the anchor sleeve 22 is held by its frictional engagement in tube I@ against both rotational and axial movement. Accordingly, the eraser carrier tube 26 is forced axially in or out of sleeve I4 by the engaged threads of tubes 22 and 2 6 so long as sleeve I4 is confined to rotary movement; as it may be in either of two ways, one of which is to hold the tube i4 down against the end of tube I0 while doing the turning, and the other of which will be pointed out in the following.

As shown in the drawing, the lip 24 is displaced from bead It, thus allowing upward movement of sleeve i4. By rotating sleeve I4 so as to move it to 24, the eraser is moved this same distance upwardly.

Now the sleeve I4 may be pushed down to leave the upper end of eraser 28 nearer to or projecting from the end of tube I4. By repetitions of these operations the eraser is extended as far as needed. By reversing the direction of rotation, and pushing inwardly on the tube between rotations, the eraser is worked into the sleeve to the position shown. Obviously, the spacing between lip 24 and bead I8 may be such that only one reciprocation is adequate to extend and retract the eraser fully.

It is particularly to be noted, however, that the motion allowed between rim 24 and the end of tube It) for bead it allows the eraser to be exposed and covered by a simple push and pull on sleeve I4. This results in a spacing between the ends of 20 and I8 when the eraser is covered. If the bead 24 is forced down against bead I5, sleeve I4 will not have this relative freedom, and movement of eraser 28 in sleeve I4 results only from rotating tube E4 about tubes I0 and 22.

It will be observed that the assembly comprising tubes I4, 22, 26 and eraser 28 is unitary for the purpose of attachment to and removal from tube III. The user simply pulls on sleeve I 4 which` slides olf tube II) and, by engaging lip 24 against bead I6, draws anchor tube 22 out of it. It is, therefore, evident that this entire assembly serves as a cap for the space I2 and is easily removed to release spare pencil leads from space I2. It should be noted that the removal of the anchor sleeve 22 removes al1 obstructions to release of the leads from the space I 2 in an endwise direcion.

It is also clear that the removable assembly 3 grips the end of tube I0 both internally and externally by means of tubes 22 and I4. The tube Il) may, moreover, be slit longitudinally for a short distance near its end on several circumferentially displaced lines near its ends and the intervening arcs sprung radially slightly to provide more friction in a more or less conventional manner.

When the assembly is made, the tubes 22 and 26 are engaged'by a thread or two and then dropped into tube I4. The lower end of tube 22 extends beyond end I8 of tube I4 and by pushing on the eraser, tube 22 is forced to its seat in the end of tube IU, or to a distance as indicated, depending upon the users requirements.

It is pointed out also that the tubes 22 and 26, with eraser 28, form a hollow cap for insertion into the pencil barrel I0, in which the leads may be received while selecting one lead for insertion into the pencil feed mechanism.

I claim:

1. In combination with the end of a cylindrical pencil barrel, an eraser sleeve telescoping over the barrel and projecting beyond the barrel end, an anchor sleeve removably anchored inside the barrel end, an eraser carrier tube threaded into the anchor sleeve, and an eraser secured to the carrier tube and engaging the internal surface of the eraser sleeve for rotation therewith and axial movement relative thereto.

2. In combination with the end of a cylindrical pencil barrel, an eraser sleeve telescoping over the barrel and projecting beyond the barrel end, an anchor sleeve inside the barrel end, an eraser carrier tube threaded into the anchor sleeve, and an eraser secured to the carrier tube and frictionally engaging the internal surface of the eraser sleeve.

3. In combination with the end of a cylindrical pencil barrel, an eraser'sleeve telescoping over the barrel and projecting beyond the barrel end and having an internal bead to engage the barrel end, an anchor sleeve inside the barrel end having an engagement lip disposed in the eraser sleeve to engage the bead, an eraser carrier tube threaded into the anchor sleeve, and an eraser secured to the carrier tube and frictionally engaging the internal surface of the eraser sleeve.

LOUIS H. HANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dysart Sept. 13, 1938 Number 

